Bucs general manager Jason Licht recently recounted the process that led to the team inking the six-time Super Bowl champion to a two-year deal, including Brady’s assessment of the Bucs having the potential to be something “special” (via Ian O’Connor of ESPN):

Licht doesn’t recall Brady’s exact words, but at one point in the call the six-time Super Bowl champ said something to the effect of, “I think we’ve got something. We’ve got a chance to be very special.”

That’s when Licht looked up from his seat in Arians’ living room and gave his head coach a thumbs-up.

The Buccaneers were aggressive in their pursuit of Brady right from the start, though it seems Brady had just as much interest in selling his own abilities to team personnel.

Tampa Bay has not reached the playoffs since 2007. In fact, the Bucs have not even won a playoff game since their march to the Super Bowl during the 2002 season. Nevertheless, Brady sees Tampa Bay as a land of opportunity.

The Bucs went 7-9 last season despite a myriad of turnovers from former signal-caller Jameis Winston and a defense that inherited the worst average starting field position in football, per Football Outsiders.

Still, the Bucs made a concerted effort to bring back their defensive stars on the front four (Shaquille Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul), and now they have one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history throwing to the likes of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.